Look into the mirror

When you get what you want in your struggle for self,

And the whole world makes you king for a day,

Just go to the mirror and look at yourself,

And see what that person has to say.

For it is not your father or mother, or spouse,

Whose judgement upon you must pass.

The being whose verdict counts most in your life

Is the one staring back at you from the mirror.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years

And get pats on the back as you pass.

But your final reward will be heartache and tears

If you cheated that soul staring back through the glass.

You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum,

And think your a wonderful creature,

But the person in the mirror says you're only a bum

If you can't look yourself in the eye.

That's the person to please--never mind all the rest,

For this being is with you for good.

And you've passed your most dangerous and difficult test

If the person in the mirror is your true friend.

*Borrowed from Bits & Pieces Vol. R/ No.41C

How do you chart your life?

Many human beings get wrapped up in how to define their lives.  They attach to labels and create associations that further identify a kind of mental map. For some, the process is reassuring, at least at first.  For others, it is very confusing. How do you chart you life in meaningful ways?

1) Recognize that the essence of a meaningful life is not its direction, but how you live each moment the best you can.

2) Accept you have a unique tone, aura, personality and that all you do affects everyone consciously and unconsciously. 

3) Discern negative situations are fueled by powerful energetic charge, yet this is not you and never exists but in the mind.

4) Raise awareness that the only way to overcome perceived emotional pain is to be conscious and learn to see it as it is.

5) Come to see a complacent sense of identity often keeps the mind imprisoned and prevents full access to authentic power.

6) Embrace perceived imperfection as a part of life, a part of increasing self-love and unconditonal self-acceptance. 

7) Discern unwavering acceptance is the end of hope and fear, when illusions of past and future dissolve.  This is presence.

What is nature telling you?

Human beings report experiences in nature that draw attention to messages in the unconscious mind. If ever you catch a glimpse of a creature, reason always exists for it. You may ask what sudden appearances of birds or animals are telling you. Whether or not you believe in animal totems, you may begin to know something is happening, shifting and transforming.

Consider a woman took what turned out to be an extended three and a half hour hike in the wilderness. At one point, she sensed she was lost. Something within her felt disoriented. Lo and behold, a crow appeared. He flew a few trees ahead and moved his head as if to beckon her in a particular direction. His flight path and gestures suggested a curious familiarity.

This bird flew from tree to tree for more than two kilometers. The woman felt as if she was back on track. Then, the crow disappeared, only to reappear further down the path almost right in front of her. This bird vanished and reappeared again. He continued to guide during segments of the remaining trek.

After the crow vanished, on the home stretch, this woman glimpsed two foxes. Seeing each fox appear and disappear into the forest without disturbing anything in its path triggered moments of revelation.  When trust is present, silence speaks.

The woman became more aware of her actions in relation to the world. She realized she used the art of camouflage to keep cunningly silent about who and what she was. She suddenly grasped she was never lost on this path or her own, but only making free will choices to enable her to create situations she was ready to handle. She better understood who she was, who she had always been, and accepted it. 

Birds and animals have cultural symbolism. Someare linked with character, emotion ad idiomatic expressions. As you separate from the illusion of fear, nature shares secrets.

From the perspective of Native Americans and Shamans, crows are sacred spirit messengers and guardians of universal laws. Crow illustrates how energy can bend physical laws and shape-shift. They are masters of illusion and gatekeepers of ancient wisdom. They come to humans to warn of danger and to jog memories of untapped inner power and spiritual strength.

One is reminded guides take form to help humans attune to what they already know, but temporarily choose to forget. So, crows appear to enable access to inner knowing about what not to do or be. How each situation is perceived and handled is what matters. Nature is a place of orientation and awakening for those ready to shift more than misplaced programming. Cleanse the mind and misunderstandings just drop away.

Reach for what matters

Analysis of dream submitted by Anonymous in Canada

Dream- my body levitates in mid-air in a nebula of colored gas clouds. The body is made of light and has tentacle-like threads of different lengths and diameters all protruding outward. The body has no eyes or external features. My perspective is from outside the light body. I see above and below it. Orbs of colors and sizes float at different levels above and below this body. A few of the tentacles touch a transparent bubble of medium size. I see through. Remnants of a dream are fading. I see a small being holding out layers of papyrus to me.

Predominant Emotions- anticipate, hope, love, acceptance.

Interpretation- It is becoming clearer that you are connected to the supernatural on seen and unseen levels. This is not a controlling or oppressive relationship, but  a symbiotic one.  As you relax, intentions can create harmony, balance and increasing awareness. Details that 'stick out' merit attention.

Clouds represent emotions.  They dim or obscure awareness that would otherwise be unobscured. You have hidden vitality and insight. Recognize pressure or impatience does not squeeze life out of Source. Accept and work with what is given.

As it happens, you have been a writer before, possibly in ancient times.  The Higher Self communicates constantly with the rest of you. Part of you realizes everything you do is but a flexible extension that teaches you to stretch, love and forgive.

Why its not what you think

To think about conditions does not mean you understand the mind or the point of the current exercise in a stage of your physical existence.  You may dwell on something you do not have or wonder why something is happening to you now.  Human beings do not always choose to be aware of answers available right in front of them. Why is it not what you think?

1) You say, "I cannot see it."  Another way to view this is you are not ready to create, uncover or accept the answers. Maybe you unconsciously look in the wrong place out of fear or, ignore a cluttered mind. Every thought evokes feelings that shift your focus from core emptiness and peace.

2) You harbour misunderstandings.  Some beings assume they do not deserve unconditional love. The origin of doubt, resistance and surrender is the same. Hear sound and become deaf. Think but remove ego. When seeing, become selectively blind. Layers of sight denote degrees of self- acceptance.

3) You make and hold what you do not see.    The perception of things creates noise, distractions.  Letting go releases everything you associate with a particular thing.  Attachment does not permit you to see or hear clearly.   To reach a state where you do not hear mental noise, you are free.

4) You recall everything is impermanent. Reality is self-explanatory. You decide if you are coming or going.  You decide which lessons you require and orchestrate the most meaningful ways to teach self effectively. Everything has already come to you. When the senses cease to be reckless, soul self turns on inner light. Remove filters from eternal sun.